Wirlybones Wood, Ratby
Details
Wildlife Highlights
This is an excellent site for insects, with Chimney Sweeper moth and Small Skipper butterfly common in summer. The small brook has a colony of Water Crickets and the water-side vegetation provides good places for sunning hoverflies.
Total species seen at this site: 127
Description
This site was established by Cawrey Homes and the National Forest along the line of a brook. It has newly planted woodland and rough grassland, bordered by mature hedges. A public footpath runs through the site which forms part of a circular walk from Ratby.
Latest Records
| Common Name | Latin Name | Date Recorded | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Acer campestre | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Meadow Foxtail | Alopecurus pratensis | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| St Mark's Fly | Bibio marci | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Cuckoo Flower | Cardamine pratensis | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Red-and-black Froghopper | Cercopis vulnerata | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Ground-ivy | Glechoma hederacea | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Hydrophoria lancifer | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls | |
| Pterostichus niger | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls | |
| Thyme-leaved Speedwell | Veronica serpyllifolia | 05/05/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Aglaostigma aucupariae | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls | |
| Tawny Mining Bee | Andrena fulva | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Wavy Bitter-cress | Cardamine flexuosa | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Ground-ivy | Glechoma hederacea | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls |
| Gymnocheta viridis | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls | |
| Red Dead-nettle | Lamium purpureum | 30/03/2012 | David Nicholls |
Getting There
The site is reached from Burroughs Lane in Ratby with the entrance next to the ford at the base of a steep hill. The footpath running through Wirlybones connects with other paths and offers a circular walking route from Ratby.
